Politics, Leaders, and God
Words of Faith 7-26-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Do you sometimes worry about politics? Do you struggle when you see the decisions made by national leaders? Are you frustrated by some leaders but then inspired by others? Are you sometimes let down by even the greatest of leaders? If so, this study is the one for you!
The books of 1 and 2 Samuel tell the story of God's people as they called out for leadership. For three centuries, Israel had been led by leaders called judges. These weren't the Judge Judy type, although one was a woman. They weren't court officials. They were dynamic, though often flawed, leaders who arose for specific purposes to meet various crises. But there was still no real leadership in Israel. 
The time of the judges had been one of political, moral, and spiritual deterioration. The priestly office had become so corrupt that the high priest's sons used it for their own gain and sinful pursuits. Just when it seemed that the nation would cave in to its decay, God intervened, and in response to godly Hannah's prayers, God gave young Samuel to her and the nation.
       Samuel's strong leadership as a judge, prophet, and priest relieved the people from internal and external threats. When Samuel became old, a successor was needed. It was evident to all that his sons were unfit to take his place. The people of Israel demanded that Samuel give them a king "like all the other nations" (1 Sam. 8:5, 20). Though disturbed by the request and the fact that it rejected God as their King, Samuel conceded to select Saul to be king. Even though this was a demand made by the people, it was a selection determined and sanctioned by God that began the period called the Monarchy, which was the time of kings.
       While the circumstances and timing of this Monarchy were improper, the concept of human royalty had always been there in the plan of God (Gen. 17:6, 16; 35:11; Deut. 17:14-20). With the selection and anointing of David, Israel's second king, Samuel saw the beginning of the line that God had promised as part of His messianic, redemptive plan (Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17).
       The specific purpose of 1 and 2 Samuel is to show how the sovereign plan of God was at work in the nation of Israel, even through flawed human leaders. These books are primarily about the line of divinely elected Davidic kings. David and his dynasty demonstrate what it means to rule under God. But we must see the plan of God-- that through David's royal house, his greater Son, Jesus Christ, eventually became incarnate. Christ perfectly exercised kingship in His own life and provided in His death and resurrection the basis on which all people who believe can reign with and through Him (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 89:36-37; Isa. 9:7).
Are you frustrated by politics? The answer is not necessarily better leaders. All of them are flawed. The answer lies in faith, trusting God, and believing He is at work among and through His people, even when leaders are flawed. Join me right here each day as we study the story of God's people recorded in 1 and 2 Samuel.
 
Lord, God, open my eyes to Your Word as I read and study. Help me to see your better way. Show me how I can be the leader that You want me to be. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.